Vorarlberg Museum

About the museum

The roots of the museum go back to 1857, when the "Museums-Verein für Vorarlberg" was founded in Bregenz. Its driving forces were district governor Sebastian von Froschauer and the scholar Faustin Ens, who aimed to keep cultural heritage in the region. The society grew quickly, collected natural history items as well as cultural-historical objects, and encouraged research. At the instigation of the entrepreneur and amateur archaeologist Samuel Jenny, the collection was given its own museum building, which opened in 1905.

In the 20th century, archives and book holdings were transferred to the Vorarlberg State Archive, and the natural history objects were gradually handed over to what later became the Vorarlberger Naturschau, today's inatura in Dornbirn. In 1942 the collections passed to the Gau Tirol-Vorarlberg. After renovations in 1959/60, the state museum remained a department of the provincial government until it was transferred to the Vorarlberger Kulturhäuser-Betriebsgesellschaft in 1997.

The old building was demolished in 2009. Following plans by the Bregenz architects Cukrowicz Nachbaur, a six-storey new building to passive-house standard was constructed, incorporating the listed former district administration building. Since its reopening in 2013 the museum has been called vorarlberg museum; its striking feature is the concrete blossoms by Manfred A. Mayr on the facade, cast from the bottoms of PET bottles.

On around 2,400 square metres, the museum shows selections from more than 160,000 objects from archaeology, art, folk culture and history. Its main focuses are Roman Brigantium, the art collection with works by Angelika Kauffmann, and changing themes on the history of the region.

Highlights

• An alphabetical walk through the state collection in "buchstäblich vorarlberg"
• Archaeology of Roman Brigantium
• Engravings after works by Angelika Kauffmann
• Facade with concrete blossoms and a 23-metre-high atrium with a clay wall
• Inclusive stations with tactile objects, Braille and sign language
• Museum café on Kornmarktplatz

Permanent exhibitions

• buchstäblich vorarlberg – A stroll through the state collection, arranged alphabetically from Kauffmann engravings to a coin hoard. With inclusive stations for touching and listening.
• Weltstadt oder so? Brigantium im 1. Jh. n. Chr. – Archaeological finds and new research results show how people lived, worked and traded in Roman Bregenz.

Founded

1857

Operated by

Vorarlberger Kulturhäuser-Betriebsgesellschaft mbH

Director

Michael Kasper

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Every first Thursday of the month from 5 pm; in 2026 also on International Museum Day (17 May), Heritage Day (27 September) and National Day (26 October).

The online ticket is valid on the day of the visit as a bus and train ticket in the Vorarlberg transport association. Accepted cards include the Kulturhäuser-Card, Bodensee-Card, V-Card, Kulturpass, Ö1 Club, aha card, regional guest cards and the IAA ID. School classes: guided tour €4 or guided tour with workshop €6 per child, accompanying adults free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description: no information

All rooms are accessible via ramps, wide doors and two lifts; lifts have Braille labelling and floor announcements. Tactile guidance system from Kornmarktplatz to the ticket desk, lift and toilets. Accessible toilets on the 1st basement level and the 4th upper floor. Four inclusive stations in "buchstäblich vorarlberg" with tactile objects, Braille, sign language video and texts in plain language. Disabled parking behind the post office building. Programmes for people with dementia.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities

With "Berta & Bert im Museum", families can explore the museum on their own and find chests with games and puzzles. Once a month on Saturdays there is a creative studio for 6- to 12-year-olds (without parents, no registration), as well as family tours for children aged 5 and over. Pushchairs can be borrowed at the ticket desk; changing and nursing room on the ground floor.

Getting there & parking

The museum is on the Lake Constance Cycle Path; bicycle parking on Kornmarktplatz. The online ticket is valid on the day of the visit as a ticket in the Vorarlberg transport association.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Museum café in the foyer, with seating on Kornmarktplatz in summer. Museum shop with publications, postcards and games. Cloakroom and lockers on the ground floor opposite the ticket desk.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Up to 350 guests.

Event hall (198 m², up to 170 people), lecture hall (81 m², up to 50 seated or 80 standing), two seminar rooms for up to 20 people each, and the atrium (up to 350 people, only at certain times). Catering via the museum café; live streams and hybrid events possible.

Plan your visit